Friday, June 26, 2009

Are the Warriors shooting themselves in the foot again?

That wasn’t an NBA draft I watched on television on Thursday. That was a puzzle.

Puzzle? After the first six players were selected in the draft, each time ESPN listed a “need to improve” graphic and each time it popped up “mid-range jumper” or some variation that indicated that these instant millionaires ought to work on their outside shot.

What’s wrong with this picture? These are millions of dollars about to be paid to young men who can’t even shoot a basketball much beyond a dunk and a lay-up?

One of those players was Ricky Rubio, the 18-year-old kid from Italy. He plays like Pete Maravich but he looks like Tony DeFranco, the lead singer for the 70s pop family singing group whose big hit was “Heartbeat (It’s A Love Beat). Did I nail that or what?

Anyway, Rubio said he preferred California’s climate so the Minnesota Timberwolves went ahead and drafted him – and his 8.0 points a game scoring average – thinking Rubio and his family would welcome the frigid winters in Minneapolis. Yeah, right. And, apparently just in case Rubio didn’t, the T-Wolves took another point guard, Jonny Flynn of Syracuse, with their next pick.

Puzzling.

Then, with the seventh pick overall, the Golden State Warriors finally took a player who can really, truly shoot and the rumor is they want to trade him to another team, the Phoenix Suns.

Now let me ask you this Warriors fans: Would you rather have Stephen Curry take a 3-point shot for your team or Stephen Jackson? I thought so.

Yet the Warriors are considering trading Curry, a dead-on, spot-up jump shooter who would compliment the slashing style of Monta Ellis, to the Suns for Amare Stoudemire, who doesn’t rebound well or defend well or block many shots and who could command a contract extension that could pay him $95 million for five years? And to get Stoudemire the Warriors would have to give up Curry and Andris Biedrins, their best rebounder and shot blocker? And this would make the Warriors a much better team for Don Nelson, who may coach only one more season?

I can understand if the Warriors want to blow up their roster as start over but I get the feeling they’re like Wile E. Coyote carrying the TNT to do it.